Kenneth Roundy Ballard

Kenneth Roundy Ballard, 90, died on Oct. 2, 2009 from age related complications. He was born July 13, 1919 in Benson, Utah to Henry and Almeda Ballard. He attended school in Benson and graduated from North Cache High School, where he participated in track and field events and the Ag Club. He attended Utah State University, taking classes in farm and agriculture. He married Veral Nilson on March 16, 1943 in the Logan Temple. They made their home in Benson and lived there all their life. Kenneth was an excellent carpenter and used that skill to build many of the farm buildings as well as their home. He had a keen eye for the structure and architect of buildings. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Northwestern States Mission. He held several church positions, as Bishop of the Benson Ward, high council, ward clerk, high priest group leader, scout master and many others. He and Veral served in the Logan Temple as temple missionaries for 16 years. Kenneth drew great pleasure from the outdoors especially Logan Canyon and he would spend much time there camping, hunting, fishing and picnicking with his family. He was fascinated by the rock formations of the earth and would spend time studying these formations in Logan Canyon and surrounding mountains. He was an avid reader and could carry on a conversation with just about anyone on any subject because he was so well read in such a variety of subjects. He and his brothers and friends would spend hours as boys in the meadows below the farm, fishing, and catching magpies for the bounty they would bring, building a log cabin and doing normal boyhood adventures. In his adult years he dairy farmed with his father and two brothers. They eventually turned the farm into a successful poultry business and hatchery. Later his sons bought out the farm and turned it into productive pig farm. He is preceded in death by his wife, brothers Nolan and Bill, sisters Gwen, June, LaRae and his parents. He was a dearly loved husband, father and grandfather and is survived by his children Pauline Hatch of Kennewick, Washington, Dale Ballard of Kennewick, Washington, Joyce and Dave Keeley of Meridian, Idaho, Todd and Norene Ballard of Benson. Several grandchildren and many great grandchildren, sister LaRue Neeley of Smithfield, Utah and sister-in-law Nina Ballard of Benson Utah. The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to all the many wonderful caregivers that took such good care of him over the last several years. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Saturday Oct. 10, 2009 in the Benson Church, 3472 North 3000 West, with a short viewing from 9:30-10:30 prior to the funeral. There will also be a viewing on Friday from 6-8 pm at Nelson Funeral, 162 East 400 North, in Logan. Interment will be in the Logan City Cemetery. Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com .